MOBILE, Alabama - For its inaugural event, the Mobile Leadership Series brought the NFL's embodiment of leadership to Mobile on Thursday night. Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning stayed on message by delivering insight into leadership in his address to about 775 people at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center.

While giving pointers on what makes a good leader, Manning called for those in the crowd to become game-changers for the good of the community.

Manning grabbed his audience's attention early when he brought up his now-famous and sometimes-lampooned "Omaha" call at the line of scrimmage. He used Omaha as an example of the power of words.

How is Omaha a powerful word?

After his Omaha call became a national talking point, Manning said, the chamber of commerce in Omaha, Neb., pledged $500 for every play where he barked it out. Manning said he's going to Omaha next week to pick up a check for $75,000 for his PeyBack Foundation for disadvantaged youth.

He said that "proves that there is real power in words, and certain words have the power to transform lives."

Manning said three words that can transform lives are family, education and community, and he praised the Mobile Leadership Series for focusing on that trio. He said all should have that same focus.

"Everyone in this room has the ability to be a leader in the community," Manning said. But that ability doesn't matter if it never gets off the sideline.

"If you have the talent," Manning said, "if you have the will, make it count for more than just numbers on the scoreboard."

Whether on the football field or the community, game-changers "have to be comfortable being uncomfortable," Manning said. He said last season's Broncos, with their offensive-line injuries, coach John Fox's heart attack and several other setbacks, had "more adversity in a season than most teams have in five years." And yet the team reached the Super Bowl.

"It was very rewarding to work through those adversities," Manning said.

Manning had what he called his "best season" in 2013 for the Broncos after recovering from four neck surgeries and missing the 2011 season. He said he couldn't explain how that happened, but he showed a photo of himself "multitasking." Because of an ankle injury, Manning missed Wednesday practices for five straight weeks last season. The picture showed him during one of those missed practices, rehabbing his ankle in a whirlpool and reviewing game film on a tablet computer while wearing a helmet so he could hear the offensive coordinator calling plays for his backup on the practice field.

Manning said game-changers must learn to adapt. He said fans might have noticed "I no longer throw the 60-yard passes down the field. But I can throw a pretty accurate 10-yard pass, 25-yard pass, and if I'm feeling really crazy maybe a 47-yarder."

Manning said one reason the Broncos roared to NFL offensive records last season is they simplified their offense as the year went along, dropping plays the team didn't execute well. He asked the audience to consider how that lesson could be applied to their schools and businesses.

Manning's preparation for games is almost mythical, and he called himself a "film devourer." He used that to illustrate his point that a game-changer must be a "master observer," which entails "the ability to identify points of meaning that the competition overlooks."

Manning said he set personal goals for the 2013 season for touchdown passes and completion percentage because he thinks those stats contribute most to the team's success. He told the group that to become game-changers, they had to "make personal goals point to team wins."

Self-confidence is important, Manning said, "but never convince yourself that you are doing great things by yourself."

After his address, Manning answered questions pitched by former Ole Miss quarterback David Morris and Quin Hillyer, a former Press-Register editorial writer and columnist who is a contributing editor for the National Review and a senior editor for the American Spectator.

Manning shared that former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis laid the lumber on him the hardest because "he likes to drive you into the ground and likes to use you to get up." Manning said even though he purchased many meals and even a set of golf clubs for Lewis when the pair were perennial AFC Pro Bowlers, Lewis always seemed to have forgotten Manning's friendship by the time their teams played in the fall.

Even after 17 seasons as an NFL player, Manning said, "I wouldn't tell the Broncos this, but I would play for free. I count my blessings every day that I'm still able to play."

Manning's final answer of the evening seemed to summarize his message. He said it was "important to give back to the people who helped you get to where you are." He said people should find something they were passionate about, whether it was a charity, a church or a school, and support it with their time and money.

"I get just as much joy out of giving as the person does receiving it," Manning said.

Before the program, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson presented Manning with a key to the city and declared him an honorary citizen of the Port City.